California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
HANS J. SCHMIDT. A man of unlimited energy, industry and activity, Hans J. Schmidt, living
about eight miles southwest of Newman, holds high rank among the skillful and prosperous
farmers of Stanislaus county. Hard-working and persevering, possessing shrewd common
sense, and thinking for himself, he has met with success as a tiller of the soil and has gained the
respect and confidence of the community. He was born across the Atlantic ocean, his birth
having occurred June 21, 1853, in Denmark, where his parents, George M. and Mary (Elholm)
Schmidt, were life long residents, the father having been employed as a stone mason.
The second child in a family consisting of two boys and two girls, Hans J. Schmidt was reared and
educated in his native land, attending the public schools, and being trained to farming pursuits.
At the age of seventeen years he bade good-by to his parents, friends and neighbors, and,
filled with the high ambitions of youth, immigrated to America, arriving in New York City in 1870.
Proceeding directly to Livingston county, Ill., he worked as a farm hand in Chatsworth for two
years., Migrating" still farther westward in 1872, he came to California, locating first in San
Francisco, and a week later going to Livermore valley, where he operated a threshing machine
for a time. Subsequently coming to the San Joaquin valley, Mr. Schmidt was so impressed with
its agricultural advantages and possibilities that he made up his mind to settle here
permanently. He has since rented land in this vicinity, having had under his management tracts
containing from three hundred to two thousand acres of land, and as a general farmer has met
with well-deserved success. He has now eleven hundred acres of land under his care, located
on the Garsos creek, eight miles southwest of Newman, and is extensively engaged in raising
wheat and barley. He has also a nice chicken ranch, furnished with an incubator, and as a
poultry raiser has acquired fame, raising about eight hundred chickens each season.
In Modesto, Cal., Mr. Schmidt married Catherina Mary Peterson, a native of Schleswig,
Germany, and they are the parents of four children, namely: George W., living near home;
John, also residing in this vicinity ; Irene, wife of Hans Jensen, of San Francisco; and Chester W.
Politically Mr. Schmidt is a loyal adherent of the Republican party, and for several years served
as school trustee. Fraternally he belongs to Newman Lodge, F. & A. M. ; to Newman Chapter, E.
O. S. ; to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to Dania Lodge, Danish Society. True to
the religious faith in which he was reared, he belongs to the Lutheran Church.